The Lovereading4Kids comment

This Strange New Life is a powerful and moving story that follows one familyâ€™s experiences of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, an increasingly common problem among teenagers. The narrative follows Johnnie, the youngest of the family, coming to terms with her two brothersâ€™ diagnoses with CFS and their deterioration from strong, healthy heroes to being bedridden, with â€˜maggots munching inside their headsâ€™. However, through its different perspectives, the story also addresses bullying, sex, life, and everything else. And despite the hardships the family undergo, it is in many ways a book full of hope and wonder.

Synopsis

This Strange New Life by Rachel Anderson

Johnnie's brothers have always been her heroes. Big, brave and brilliant, they are out making their way in the world while she is still stuck at home, the little girl of the family.

So when they both crawl back, too ill to fend for themselves, everything changes. How will Johnnie cope with these frail, demanding brothers? What strange ventures are going on inside their heads? And what is Johnnie's place in this bizarre new family?

From feet as cold as ice to the mysteries of tulips, and from angels with dreadlocks to maggots in the brain, this is a powerful, moving, and ultimately hopeful story about chronic fatigue syndrome, growing up, being a family, life, the universe - and everything.

About the Author

As well as journalism, Rachel still occasionally contributes to various journals and TV programmes. Rachel Anderson is an established Oxford author. Her special gift is to write powerfully about disability or alienation.

Rachel won the Guardian Children's Fiction Award for Paper Faces.

Rachel enjoys reading, drawing and walking. She is married and lives mainly in Cromer, Norfolk. She has four children.